Work accident news
08/11/2007
HSE reveal Scottish work injury statistics

New figures detailing the shocking effect of work accidents in Scotland have been revealed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Research carried out by the body responsible for cutting the number of work injuries in the UK has shown that almost 200,000 Scottish people say their work has affected their health. This figure includes those people who say their wellbeing has been damaged or made worse by their job.

The HSE report highlights the fact that 4.3 million working days were lost last year in Scotland because of workplace accidents and work-derived illness. This equates to more than two days for every single worker, a massive amount that hugely affects the country's economy.

Other statistics unveiled by the report show that 12,000 Scottish employees suffered personal injury during the last year, while 31 died because of accidents at work.

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman commented on the importance of acting to cut work accidents, saying: "We see every day the impact of poor health and safety practice, and it is this which drives us, not the desire to act as killjoys."